Pretty. Damned. Fast. was founded in Brooklyn, New York, but our love for cycling and our contributors are world wide. Want to contribute, advertise, or just say hi? Shoot us an email or show us some love on Instagram.

Jan 30 Spin Peaks Film Debut

Before joining the Spin Peaks track cycling team last season I had only considered myself a commuter, riding my steel-frame, single-speed bike anywhere I needed to go in NYC. I used to do alley cat races in Tallahassee, Florida before moving to Brooklyn, and had always wanted to take my interest in cycling to a competitive level but never seemed to find a good fit. I started the 2017 track season having never ridden a fixed gear bicycle, let alone owning one. At the beginning of the season I prayed for rain on race days because I was so nervous to compete. But that didn’t last past my first race. I grew closer to the other cyclists on my team, built my own bike, and even finished the season having moved up a category. All with a whole new community of WTF cyclists at my back.

My first year of competitive cycling has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I’m so grateful for our shops, King Kog and Sun & Air, for helping our rookie team, through their faith, generosity, and willingness to be our mechanic mentors. We got our All-City Thunderdomes and built them all together as a team one night after the shop closed. Getting the right bike set up made this new challenge such a breeze. The other riders I met on the track were unbelievably supportive--besides the super-informative clinics, they provided constant inclusivity and care. Even though we compete against each other we are all rooting for each other, and we are all on each other’s sides. What other crew would be able to laugh about a wedgie joke together moments before the whistle blows and we ride our hearts out in competition?

The satisfaction I feel from moving such a simple machine as a fixed gear bike as fast as I can with pure muscle, fearlessness and will is unlike any other feeling. It gives me power and confidence that I didn’t know I had. The hard work and training ends up being so mentally and physically rewarding. I started my first track season nervous to take on a new sport, and being outside of my comfort zone, but today I find myself a new person: an athlete who is driven, confident, and strong. I am extremely humbled to be part of this community, and I have an endless amount to learn. But I know I have the support of everyone on the track, our broader club, Danger Diamond, and my Spin Peaks team members. We are only at the beginning.